Lives On The Lines

What unites romantic sea mists, Green Men, haunting musical scores and Anglo-Saxon Kings?

It’s Greater Anglia’s East Suffolk Lines! Get comfy for a tour through one of England’s most magical and diverse landscapes by train.

From Felixstowe pass through Ipswich and on to Melton, a rural spot on the River Deben over which Sutton Hoo presides. Excavations at this burial ground revolutionised our understanding of history, giving a precious insight into the beliefs, rituals and society of the Anglo-Saxons. The National Trust’s Archaeology and Engagement Manager Laura explains some of the incredible learnings from this site.

The line wends its way through magical, musical landscapes: home to the music of Benjamin Britten, the Aldeburgh Festival and vibrant market towns. We stop off to meet local artist Michael Bullen in Walberswick and hear how he’s been inspired by the ebb and flow of quayside life.

In Halesworth, local historian Dave treats us to a tour around town. Often missed by tourists visiting by road, this hidden gem is a cornucopia of history, from its station house museum to traditional high street and gorgeous buildings. Dave shares some of Halesworth’s secrets including tales of a cheeky fox, incredible architecture, Green Men and wartime trysts in Crinkle Crankle Walls!

For our final leg of the journey we’re joined by Trevor, who’s lived and worked along this line for most of his life. He explains how life and opportunity has changed here, from the days of steam to modern day tourism, education and work. Trevor guides us to Lowestoft where the newly refurbished station buildings are home to a fantastic Tourist Office where he volunteers – a great starting point for an adventure by the sea!

Spoiler alert: this episode features ice cream.

Lives on the Lines is created on behalf of the Community Rail Partnerships with Greater Anglia.

From a famous Anglo-Saxon rebel fighter, to slippery eels and a dancing bear,there’s plenty to explore along Greater Anglia’s Hereward Line.

In the first episode of Lives on the Lines, the adventure begins with a railway journey across the Cambridgeshire fens. Starting in historic Peterborough, local history buff Trevor explains how generations worked to build the epic cathedral here, and what it means to be a true Peterborian.

Travelling along the Hereward Line we stop at Whittlesea to meet Geoff, a passionate fenland runner, former maths teacher and station adopter, before Brian Kell BEM explains how he revived a lost folk tradition that sees thousands of people take to the streets here every year.

We chat to Steve, a born and bred Manea man about life in this fenland village, and explore the epic engineering history that crafted this incredible landscape and wildlife hotspot.

Our journey concludes in the cathedral city of Ely where local guide Nora Gardner takes us on a journey through time with her favourite local spots. She explains the weird and wonderful uses eels have had for people here through time and the city’s connection to Hereward the Wake – a rebel leader who held out against William the Conqueror long after the Norman Conquest!

Lives on the Lines is created on behalf of the Community Rail Partnerships with Greater Anglia.

Join a haunting journey along the River Stour in Essex and find out about a wicked ‘witch’ murderer, and extraordinary holiday home and a port town’s vital connection to modern democracy. This episode’s adventure follows Greater Anglia’s Mayflower Line.

Local guide Bob takes us for a walk around a village with a distinctive scent! From under Mistley’s malt towers we hear how a village and a grand country house grew up together here. We take a walk past the former home of Matthew Hopkins, the Witch Finder General who had around 100 women put to death in his moneymaking crusade through East Anglia.

The wildlife along the Stour is breathtaking and as we continue our journey we discover more birdwatching hotspots in Wrabness, not to mention a remarkable Grayson Perry-designed house in the landscape. Award-winning station Adopter Julia tells the story behind it and shares the story of the beautiful community garden she manages here.

We conclude our journey in Harwich, famed for its shipbuilding. Local David is a mine of information on the area and he’s our guide through the narrow streets and wide history of this wonderful town. Find out where sea buoys are repaired, encounter one of the country’s oldest cinemas and get a taste of the many volunteer-run museums in town. For those of you wondering how to pronounce “Stour”, we have the definitive answer too!

Lives on the Lines is created on behalf of the Community Rail Partnerships with Greater Anglia.

Meet beautiful steam trains, traverse ancient orchards and find out how a dragon – or alligator – found its way to an East Anglian village! We’ll hear about local life and legend in the landscape that inspired one of England’s most influential painters. It’s all to be discovered along Greater Anglia’s Gainsborough Line.

The Gainsborough Line may be the shortest line in our series, but its history is long! We begin our adventure crossing a magnificent viaduct – and one of the largest brick-build structures in England.

Just minutes outside Marks Tey at Chappel and Wakes Colne lies the East Anglian Railway Museum. Engineer and fix-it fan Peter gives us an incredible insight into the work he and his colleagues do to restore and revive the majestic history of rail travel and trade. With engines dating from the birth of steam to our recent past we hear how experts are getting hands on with the nuts and bolts of rail and giving us a fun family day out in the process!

We stop off at Bures where the River Stour forms the boundary of Essex and Suffolk. Gill is a local parish councillor and guides us from the beautiful station garden in full bloom, through this picturesque and historic village. She shares its claim to the crowning of King Edmund – the last East Anglian King – as well as a bizarre tale about a dragon, which you might still spot today! She also points out snapshots of Tudor architecture that tell of life here through the ages.

Oh and do you know what Pickleball is? You heard it here first!

The final stop on the Gainsborough Line is Sudbury and home to Gainsborough’s House. This museum is currently being redeveloped to include a major arts hub and was the birthplace and home of this English Landscape Master. We speak to Museum Director Mark and find out about the life and local inspirations of the painter before taking a watery and wonderful walk in the sunshine.

Lives on the Lines is created on behalf of the Community Rail Partnerships with Greater Anglia.

In the final leg of our journey we uncover the secrets of Norwich, explore leisure on the water, walk in the footsteps of mammoths and uncover an age-old knitting tradition amongst fishing families.

It’s all to be discovered, and so much more, along the Bittern Line.

Norwich tour guide John takes us on an olfactory adventure in the market, through an art deco arcade to castle ramparts on high with stories and secrets from Norfolk’s unofficial capital. Find out how Norwich had its own great fire (well ahead of London!) as we pass through Tudor streets on the way to the city’s beautiful cathedral.

Out of the city and into the serene landscape of the Broads, we explore Hoveton and Wroxham – a gateway to the Broads, and home to a busy tour company. Ruth worked here as a teen and came back as director of the company years later. She explains the unique magic of this place to tourists and locals alike.

As the lines wind along the coast, David, a curator from Norfolk Museums, joins us with his top tips for fossil hunting and to explain some of the incredible finds along the Deep History Coast. He tells us about the West Runton Mammoth and paints a picture of an ice age Norfolk where rhino, hyena and giant deer roamed the landscape! He also explains how you can safely hunt fossils on the beach and the vital role the public plays in uncovering these seaside secrets.

Cromer and Sheringham are two iconic seaside resorts to be enjoyed along the Bittern Line, and we meet local museum founder Tim who tells us how fishing heritage in the area is being preserved by locals today; from fishermen nicknames to the fantastic gansey tradition where close-knit woollen jumpers were worn like a family crest .

Lives on the Lines is created on behalf of the Community Rail Partnerships with Greater Anglia.